France 4-3 Argentina, World Cup: Mbappé brace highlights ridiculously fun match

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90+5min: One final Argentina attack, but the shot goes wide and it’s all over! WHAT. A. GAME.

90+3min: Otamendi with a strong foul, leads to handbags. Yellows for Otamendi, Giroud, maybe others.

90+2min: Argentina get one back! Agüero!

88min: Thauvin is the last change, on for the star of the day, Kylian Mbappé. He gets a rousing ovation.

85min: France turn the ball over, Messi picks it up and runs at goal, beats four, but his shot is weak and straight at Lloris.

84min: Kanté with two blocks in quick succession as Argentina tries for a miracle. Fekir’s on for Griezmann, who’s been kicked a few times.

80min: Meza’s deflected shot is safely into the hands of Lloris.

75min: Tolisso comes on for Matuidi for France’s first change. Meza (not Dybala or Higuain) comes on for Pavón for Argentina’s third and last.

73min: Pavard gets a yellow as Di Maria rolls around. France clear the free kick and Kanté leads the counter. He finds Mbappé but his pass for Griezmann is mis-hit and Armani collects easily.

72min: Matuidi gets a mystery yellow; misses next match.

70min: Giroud hits the side-netting. Just wide.

68min: Tremendous build-up from France, starting with Lloris and Kanté, through the midfield and up to Giroud, who lays on the perfect pass for the onrushing Mbappé, who slots easily into the far corner. 4-2!

66min: Agüero replaces Pérez and Argentina look for a goal.

64min: MBAPPÉ! 3-2. The youngster finds the ball on the scramble, makes a move, and scores. What a turnaround.

58min: PAVARD! 2-2.

56min: Fazio and Armani miscommunication almost gifts Griezmann a goal. But his shot goes wide after an uncalled tug on his shirt by Fazio.

53min: Kanté latest to catch a sliding boot from Argentina. Perez the guilty party; no card. Mbappé takes the free kick, but his good-looking curling ball is cleared by Otamendi.

50min: Mbappé fouled by both Di Maria and Banega. The latter gets a yellow.

48min: Di Maria beats Pavard and wins a free kick. Banega’s cross is cleared, but only as far as Messi. He creates a shot, which looks harmless until it deflects off Mercado and into the back of the net. France trail for the first time in this World Cup. 2-1.

46min: Back underway. Argentina make a half-time change with Fazio replacing Rojo at the back.

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45+2min: Half time. France appear to be the better side and could and should probably handily win this. But instead, it’s 1-1.

43min: Mascherano finally gets his yellow, for a sliding tackle on Kanté. Mascherano would miss the quarterfinals, if Argentina were to advance.

41min: Out of nowhere, a Di Maria long bomb equalizes for Argentina. Wow!

39min: Nice spell of possession by France leads to a good interchange between Griezmann and Pavard; his cross is just a bit too high as Giroud flings himself at the ball.

36min: One of Giroud and Otamendi kicks the other, no call either way; Giroud gets a bit of treatment. Getting a bit testy.

32min: Mascherano cleans out Pogba, still no card despite very little intent to play the ball.

31min: Another good break by France, after some slick play at the back, this time led by Pogba through the middle. His pass finds Mbappé but he gets the ball tangled in his feet and the chance is gone.

27min: Argentina show some life with a good overlapping run on the right flank, but Mercado’s second touch is too long.

26min: This time it’s Griezmann runs at Argentina and turns the corner, but his low cross is gathered by Armani before anyone can get a foot to it.

24min: Mbappé turns and looks to be in again, but Pavón slows him down. No call.

21min: Pogba takes the free kick this time, goes for power, is not good.

19min: After a bit of Argentina possession, France find Mbappé over the top and he loses everyone once again. This time the foul is just outside the box, from Tagliafico, who earns the yellow.

13min: Griezmann converts the penalty kick. France take the lead!

11min: Mbappé absolute tears up the pitch; no one on Argentina has any hope of keeping up with him. Rojo takes him out at the end; referee calls the penalty, VAR agrees.

8min: Mascherano cleans out Mbappé; no card. Griezmann takes the free kick and slams it off the crossbar. So close!

5min: Argentina break, but Di Maria’s cross is wild and wide.

3min: Messi dives, wins a free-kick. France getting called for everything.

KICK-OFF: And we’re off! Giroud called for a foul on an aerial challenge within 10 seconds.

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The fun is over and it’s time for serious business at the 2018 World Cup. No more group games, no more meaningless ties, no more carefree silliness. It’s win or go home from here on out, starting with the Round of 16.

Four wins gets you the Cup, one loss gets you a ticket home.

First up, two of the pre-tournament favorites, though only one of them has lived up to anywhere near their promise. France look solid from top to bottom, with Chelsea midfield collective N’Golo Kanté anchoring the middle and sexy forehead Olivier Giroud providing the meat up front (when needed). The same can’t be said for Argentina, who are probably lucky to have even got this far.

But, in single-elimination, anything can happen.

This could be a good one, or least a dramatic one.

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France starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
Lloris | Hernández, Umtiti, Varane, Pavard | Pogba, Kanté | Matuidi, Griezmann, Mbappé | Giroud

Substitutes from: Kimpembe, Lemar, Dembélé, Tolisso, N’Zonzi, Mandanda, Rami, Fekir, Sidibé, Thauvin, Mendy, Areola

Argentina starting lineup (4-3-3):
Armani | Tagliafico, Rojo, Otamendi, Mercado | Pérez, Mascherano, Banega | Di Maria, Messi, Pavón

Substitutes from: Guzmán, Ansaldi, Biglia, Fazio, Acuña, Higuaín, Meza, Salvio, Agüero, Lo Celso, Dybala, Caballero

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Date / Time: Saturday, June 30, 2018, 15:00 BST; 10am EDT
Venue: Kazan Arena, Kazan
Referee: Alireza Faghani (Iran)
On TV: BBC One (UK); FOX, Telemundo (USA); elsewhere
Streaming online: BBC iPlayer (UK); FOX Sports Go, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo; Sling World Cup (USA)